UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 7, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• Kurti meets Borrell and Lajcak, talks about future of dialogue with Serbia (media)
• Kurti: We have fulfilled all criteria for visa liberalization (media)
• Meeting between Kurti and Vucic, not expected this year (Koha)
• Sir Stuart Peach’s appointment as special envoy to Western Balkans, important step (RTK)
• Perparim Rama sworn in as mayor of Pristina (media)
• KOSTT's request for allocation of 33 million euros for electricity in the north, rejected (media)
• Kurti represents Kosovo with a footnote in Stabilization and Association Council (Zeri)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 42 new cases, two deaths registered in Serbian areas in Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Vucic: We are ready to sign agreement on missing persons, but it is Pristina blocking dialogue (KoSSev)
• Office for KiM: Flags of Albania and KLA displayed in Bosniak Mahala (KoSSev)
• NATO senior official says Serbia valued, long-term partner (N1, BETA)
• RCC’s Bregu: Challenges facing EU linked to those W. Balkans experiences (FoNet, N1)
• Von Cramon met SOC Bishop Grigorije (N1, media)
• The White House announced a plan to fight corruption on a global level (Kosovo Online, Tanjug)
• OSCE Mission condemned repeated vandalism of memorial plaque dedicated to missing Serb journalists (social media)
• Vucic and Hasanpur: Iran respects territorial integrity of Serbia (Kosovo-online, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• The global fight for democracy begins at home (Politico)

International:

• Serbia Strengthening ‘Parallel Structures’, Kosovo Deputy PM Says (Balkan Insight)
• For Serbia’s Stevan Dojcinovic, journalism brings the Balkans’ corruption to light by ‘touching the untouchables’ (theglobeandmail.com)

Humanitarian/Development:

• More than 100 cases of sexual violence this year (Koha, KoSSev, RTK2)

• Stano: Pristina and Belgrade have no readiness for dialogue (RFE)
• Kosovo delegation travels to Brussels for Stabilisation and Association Council (media)
• Kurti on Gllogjan case: Best investigators working on it (media)
• Bislimi: Parallel structures in the north stronger than ever (media)
• Kosovo leaders pay tribute to late US senator Bob Dole (euronews.al)
• Kosovo war veterans’ leader ‘trapped’ by leaked documents (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)
• Kosovo death rate soars as result of COVID, data reveal (Prishtina Insight)
• Head of private sector union warns Kurti of big protests next week (Express)
• Kosovo judges’ ‘sexist’ language in rape trial draws outrage (BIRN)
• Youth from Kosovo will receive direct help from Youth Guarantee scheme (EWB)

Albanian Language Media:

• Haradinaj calls for unity in political battle with Serbia (media)
• Kurti mentions meeting with Vucic; EU says we cannot speculate (Telegrafi)
• “Serb MPs didn’t honor Dole only because he was a friend of the Albanians” (Express)
• Jablanovic accuses SL of surveilling people through cameras in Leposavic (Kallxo)
• Croatian President to visit Kosovo on Christmas, will meet Osmani and Kurti (media)
• Kosovo sends over 30 samples for testing for Omicron to Germany (Express)
• COVID-19: Four new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 36 new cases registered in Serbian areas on Saturday (Radio KIM)
• Mts doo and ARKEP deny KosovaPress - that the number of illegal antennas in the North has increased (KoSSev)
• UNS: Memorial plaque dedicated to kidnapped Serb journalists demolished for eight time (Radio KIM)
• Office for KiM: Desecration of memorial plaque impermissible (Radio KIM)
• On the eve of Human Rights Day, the associations of missing appealed to Belgrade and Pristina to intensify their work (KiM radio, Kossev)
• Platform of NGOs asks decision on award to language non-compliant institutions be reconsidered (Radio KIM, media)
• Language Commissioner response to Gracanica-online open letter (Gracanica-online)
• Police invisible, Serbia’s roads blocked; Protest against Vucic in Kosovo north (N1)
• Protests across Serbia: “Serbia is not for sale! Marš sa Drine!” (KoSSev)

Opinion:

• Palokaj: Merkel will be missed by all (Koha)

International:

• Cocaine Comrades: The Balkan Ties of a Fallen Colombian Drug Trafficker (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• PM Kurti hosts meeting with heads of shelters for domestic violence victims (media)
• Government declares iron will in defense of human rights (Ekonomia Online)
• “Women, girls from minority communities not included in labour market” (Koha)
• BIRN to Hold Exhibition Commemorating Reporters Killed in Balkan Wars (BIRN)

• Kurti and Vucic might meet in the second week of December (media)
• Kurti for Montenegrin daily Pobjeda: Serbia is copying Russia (media)
• Kosovo PM Kurti has telephone conversation with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar (media)
• Haradinaj calls Kurti a “communist” (Koha)
• Hoxhaj: Dangerous to believe that UN membership is not important (Zeri)
• Petkovic: Kurti will not get a U.S. visa while he attacks Belgrade (Express)
• Outrage over the language of a Kosovo court ruling (media)
• Kosovo Arrests 31 for Fraudulent Use of Agriculture Subsidies (BIRN)
• Vucic reacts to massive cross-country protests over lithium mine (euronews.al)
• COVID-19: Three new cases, one death (media)
• Kosovo introduces additional measures in effort to prevent new wave of COVID-19 infections (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 3, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• PDK: Shadow government will be formed after New Year holidays (T7)
• Kosovo Minister of Defense reports to parliamentary committee (media)
• Berisha: Army was never involved in police operations (media)
• The Western Balkans with “Russian troubles” (Radio Free Europe)
• New board no silver bullet for troubled Kosovo broadcaster (BIRN)
• Haradinaj: Deeply grateful to Merkel, a great friend of Kosovo (media)
• Abazovic: If Open Balkans is alternative to EU, Montenegro disagrees (Telegrafi)
• COVID-19: 13 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Serbian Government most strongly protested the Pristina’s new ban for Petkovic (GoS website, media)
• Serbian PM says support for EU membership highest in five years (N1)
• Serbian media continue reacting to awards presented to language non-compliant institutions, seek public apology (KoSSev, Gracanica-online, Radio KIM)
• Lawyer: Rada Trajkovic acquitted of charges for slander against BIA official (KoSSev)
• Vucic grateful for EU financial gift for Nis-Merdare highway construction (N1)
• Rakic: SOC pillar of support for Serbian people (Kosovo-online)
• Vasic: Confirmation of verdict to Krstic a scandal that is no surprising (Radio KIM)
• Tadic on Rio Tinto Company: "Negotiations started during time of Zoran Djindjic's government" (B92)
• EC’s Pisonero: Rio Tinto ‘Jadar’ project can be good economic chance for Serbia (N1)
• Godfrey: US support participation of other countries from region in “Open Balkan” initiative (Kosovo-online)
• EU-W. Balkans Ministerial Forum: Importance of rule of law, judicial reforms (N1)

International:

• Far-Right Exploiting Pandemic to Spread Hate, in the Balkans Too (BIRN)

• Kurti meets Quint ambassadors and head of EU office (media)
• Kurti: Any initiative aimed at replacing EU integration is deviation from genuine democratic reforms (media)
• Politicians react to appointment of UK special envoy to Western Balkans (media)
• Mustafa: Association to either be formed or Assembly to invalidate 2013 agreement (Koha)
• Analysts discuss implementation of Constitutional Court rulings (Klan)
• Kosovo rejects entrance permission to Petkovic (RTK)
• Svecla meets Johansson, discuss fight against crime and corruption (media)
• EC 2021 Reports on Western Balkans: Corruption is widespread and remains an issue of concern (EWB)
• Arrested development: the unfinished church dividing Kosovo (AFP/France 24)
• Kosovo to Simplify Path to Citizenship for Albanians from Presevo Valley (Exit)
• Kosovo Confirms Jailing of Serb Ex-Policemen for War Crimes (BIRN)
• ‘Art Without Limit’ Film Festival Opens in Capital (BIRN)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media)

UNMIK Media Observer, Afternoon Edition, December 2, 2021

Albanian Language Media:

• UK appoints special envoy to the Western Balkans (media)
• Ambassador Rohde urges political parties to achieve Assembly quorum (media)
• Trade unions give government deadline to approve law on salaries (Klan/Kallxo)
• Rama: "Open Balkan" mechanism to aid implementation of Berlin process (Koha)
• AJK calls on Government and LVV to distance themselves from social media group (media)
• COVID-19: 16 new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Covid-19: 32 new cases, one death registered in Serbian areas (Radio KIM)
• Petkovic again banned from entering Kosovo (Tanjug, Kosovo Online)
• Property issues in Kosovo, an unresolved problem (Radio KIM)
• FM Selakovic: Serbia fosters friendly relations with African states (Tanjug)
• NATO’s Stoltenberg: Development of the situation in the WB worrying (N1, Radio Mitrovica sever)
• Protest in Zvecan due to electricity supply issues (Radio kontakt plus)
• The Court of Appeals upheld verdicts to Krstic and Shabani (Kosovo-online)
• Selakovic thanks Romania for its firm position not to recognize Kosovo (Kosovo-online)
• Institutions respecting the Law on Use of Languages awarded (Radio KIM)

International:

• The Eagle’s Nest: Migrants, Refugees Tread New Balkan Route (Balkan Insight)
• Serbia, new environmental protests (balcanicaucaso.org)

Humanitarian/Development:

• Von der Leyen: "It's time to consider mandatory vaccination" (B92, Tanjug)

• Borrell: Kosovo and Serbia must return to dialogue, no other way (Koha)
• Lajcak visits Norway, discusses dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia (media)
• Abdixhiku: I am trying for a great comeback of the LDK (media)
• AAK’s Lekaj says KSF commander was sacked (Ekonomia Online)
• Healthcare workers on strike today (Telegrafi)
• PDK denies agreement on Prishtina deputy mayor post (Kallxo/Zeri)
• KEDS asks for 7 percent increase in electricity tariffs from December 1 (Koha)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

Albanian Language Media:

• Stoltenberg: We are concerned with rhetoric in Bosnia and Kosovo-Serbia tensions (Klan)
• PDK's Citaku accuses Minister Mehaj of legal violations (media)
• Kosovo's deputy minister denies allegations of Mehaj-Rama disagreements (Telegrafi)
• Former KSF commander to represent Kosovo at RACVIAC organisation (Telegrafi)
• Quint must not put pressure on Kosovo institutions, historians say (media)
• KSC prosecution opposes interim release of former KLA leaders (media)
• Court fines Klina mayor on conflict of interest charges (Zeri)
• Kurti on anti-COVID measures: They respond to current situation (media)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, no deaths (media)

Serbian Language Media:

• Dacic calls referendum on constitutional amendments for January 16 (media)
• New assemblies constituted in Serbian municipalities in Kosovo (RTS)
• Visoki Decani: Without respect for the rights of all communities, there is no sustainable democratic development (Kosovo Online)
• PM Brnabic to von Cramon: ''I understand that Kosovo is part of Serbia for you as well, and I appreciate that'' (Kosovo Online, Blic)
• The north of Kosovo among the reasons for the change in the KSF; the position of the USA awaited (Kosovo Online)
• Serbian Defence Minister Stefanovic about the change of the KSF head (Kosovo Online)
• Todosijevic, Serbian List member who was sentenced to prison, still MP (RFE)
• Serbian Ministry of Culture returned Kosovo and Metohija to the Law on Cultural Heritage (KiM radio, Beta)
• Stano: Both Belgrade and Pristina to allow official visits (RTS, Tanjug)
• Borrell: Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is the only way to stabilization (RTS, Tanjug)

Opinion:

• Serbia’s War on Free Media is Moving to ‘Street Level’ (Balkan Insight)

International:

• Havana Syndrome: The Perfect Disease for a Post-Truth World (Balkan Insight)

Humanitarian/Development:

• World AIDS day finds Kosovo with eight new HIV positive cases (RFE/Koha)
• Quarantine in Kosovo Sparks Revival in Greenhouse Gardening (Prishtina Insight)
• Workshop on Participatory Strategic Planning organised in Kosovo* (CoE)
• Massive protests in Serbia against Rio Tinto’s lithium mining ambition, pollution (balkangreenenergynews.com)

• The Quint calls on Kosovo to implement decision on Decani Monastery land (media)
• Osmani asks Slovenia to persuade partners to lift visa requirements (BIRN)
• Government doesn’t expect results from dialogue before Serbia elections (Koha)
• EU: Serbia should allow Kosovo ministers to visit Presevo (media)
• LDK MP: I don’t believe there should be early elections (media)
• Dugolli: We will have helicopters during this mandate (KTV)
• Von Cramon’s call to Germany on changing its stance on Serbia angers PM Brnabic (euronews.al)
• Surroi: Kurti, Rama wouldn’t mention referendum if not asked (Klan Kosova)
• Only 19 percent of women elected to municipal assemblies (Lajmi)
• Albania, Kosovo plan joint children’s textbook for 2022 (BIRN)
• COVID-19: Eight new cases, one death (media)